The winter snow was pristine. Not a single footstep disturbed the gleaming blanket of ice. Not even as her feet tread across them, in the quick fashion she had been taught. Finally, she held still enough for her feet to sink into the snow. Spiky hair and black garb hidden by a thick cloak to protect from the cold, she scanned the snowy rubble before her. Once, there had been a cave, leading to an underground volcano. Once, she had gone there to rescue a princess, and once......she had a friend named Rikimaru.Ayame pulled a scabbard from her side. Carefully, she unsheathed the sword within. Each inch of metal revealed triggered more...